MOUNTAIN LAKES — Officials evacuated and eventually dismissed the Briarcliff middle school Tuesday after a suspicious message was found at the school.

Briarcliff Middle School, seen in a 2012 file photo. At the time, members of the school community had left memorials to a recently deceased principal at the entrance.Jerry McCrea/The Star-Ledger

An initial alert to parents from Superintendent of Schools Anne Mucci suggested students might be returned to class, but a later message said would instead be sent home early.

Last year, nearby Montville schools were evacuated several times due to suspicious notes and threats found in various schools. All the threats were ultimately determined to be unfounded, but authorities searched schools after each.